Dusty May leaving Michigan for the Dallas Mavericks is the talk of the basketball world. There are tons of stories to write and questions to consider in the wake of this move. Here’s one: Will Ben McCollum, currently the head coach at Iowa, coach Michigan or Kansas in 2028? Let’s talk:
Mike Boynton
Mike Boynton is essentially auditioning for the permanent Michigan job this coming season. If he does great, Michigan will almost surely retain him. If he stumbles, Michigan will just as surely look for a long-term replacement. This is where the discussion starts: If Boynton blows it, Michigan will be an open job one year from now.
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Bill Self
Bill Self is going to step down from Kansas and go into retirement … but when? Will Self want two years at Kansas or call it a career after next season? Health is a factor. The outcome of next season could affect Self’s choice, too. If he gets back to the Final Four, that might be the perfect way to go out. If KU gets knocked out on the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, Self might want one more run in 2028. At any rate, Kansas could easily be an open job next year.
Ben McCollum and Kansas
Ben McCollum took Iowa to the Elite Eight in Year 1. He is a rock-star coach who will and should get phone calls from the top programs when their jobs come open. The industry consensus has been that Kansas is the job McCollum would take if it came open. KU’s first call will go to McCollum when Bill Self retires.
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Michigan is the new plot twist
When the North Carolina job got filled, Kansas became that much more obvious as Ben McCollum’s next coaching job. Michigan, with Dusty May leaving for the NBA, now becomes a new option for McCollum in the Big Ten. This gives McCollum something to think about.
Pros and cons for Kansas
If Ben McCollum is thinking about going to Kansas, the pros are simple: It’s Kansas. It’s Phog Allen Fieldhouse. It’s a blue-blood program steeped in history. The brand name is robust. Coaches such as Bill Self win national championships at Kansas. The school is all-in on basketball.
The cons of the Kansas job: Arizona, Houston, Iowa State, and Texas Tech (among others) are all in the same conference. The Big 12 is a beast. The Big Ten is very tough, but the Big 12 wouldn’t be any easier.
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Pros and cons for Michigan
Ben McCollum, if considering the Michigan job, would know that the pro-Michigan components of the situation would include Big Ten membership. McCollum wouldn’t have to change conferences. Michigan has top-tier resources. The Tom Izzo era at Michigan State is winding down. Bluebloods Indiana and UCLA are struggling. Michigan is in position to remain the Big Ten’s top basketball power, with Illinois being the primary competitor.
The cons about Michigan: A move from Iowa to Michigan might be emotionally uncomfortable for McCollum, who previously coached at Drake and is therefore hugely popular within the state of Iowa. Another drawback: Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel is not well-liked by a large percentage of the fan base. He might not be an ideal boss.
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Michigan and Kansas could battle for Iowa’s Ben McCollum in future
